Introduction

Based on the BMW X3, the redesigned 2019 BMW X4 is what the company calls a Sports Activity Coupe. What’s that? A 5-door fastback with all-wheel drive and eight inches of ground clearance.

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Smaller than the X3 inside due to its dramatically swept roofline, the X4 also costs more money, starting at a price just over $50,000. BMW will offer the new 2019 X4 in xDrive30i and M40i model series, each available with a number of upgrades that can inflate the price to around $70,000.

It goes on sale in July of 2018.

Exterior Features

Aside from the rakish roofline, the X4 is much like the X3. Longer and wider than the vehicle it replaces, it is also better balanced in terms of its appearance, looking a little less ungainly than its predecessor.

The X4 xDrive30i is equipped with standard xLine styling cues, which are intended to give it a more rugged appearance. An M Sport upgrade swaps in performance-oriented cues. The X4 M40i includes M Sport styling as standard equipment.

BMW claims that the new X4 boasts a 10-percent improvement in aerodynamics, dropping the coefficient of drag to just 0.30. That’s impressive for an SUV.

All X4 models include LED headlights, fog lights, and taillights. They all wear standard 19-inch aluminum wheels, too, with sizes ranging up to 21 inches in diameter.

Interior Features

According to BMW, the new X4 has 5-passenger seating and an extra inch of rear seat legroom. Every little bit helps, but the fact remains that this vehicle is smaller inside than the X3 upon which it is based.

For proof, look to the cargo area. Behind the 40/20/40-split rear seat, the trunk holds 18.5 cubic feet of cargo volume. Fold the rear seat down, and space amounts to 50.5 cu.-ft. That’s about as much as a Kia Soul will hold.

If cargo space measures less than the X3, the standard equipment list is longer. Every X3 includes sport seats, wood or pearl gloss chrome trim, simulated leather on the dashboard and door panels, and ambient interior lighting in a choice between six colors. A standard panoramic glass roof lightens the mood, too.

Choose the X4 M40i for aluminum interior trim, M-specific sport seats, a dark charcoal gray headliner, and a sport steering wheel. This version can also be upgraded with BMW Individual premium Merino leather in various 2-tone treatments.

Under the Hood

A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is standard in the X4 xDrive30i, delivering 248 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheels through a new xDrive all-wheel-drive system. So equipped, BMW says the X4 can scoot to 60 mph in six seconds flat.

More power is standard in the X4 M40i, which features a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine producing 355 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque. This shaves 1.4 seconds off the acceleration time to 60 mph, according to BMW.

Both engines employ an 8-speed sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Launch Control is available to help maximize time to speed, and Performance Control varies the distribution of power to the rear wheels in order to enhance handling. Drivers use the Driver Experience Control system to select between Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and in the M40i, Sport+ modes.

Additionally, the X4 is equipped with pre- and post-collision systems designed to keep occupants as safe as is possible, all grouped under the Active Protection umbrella. As a part of its BMW Connected services, the X4 features Intelligent Emergency Call and Teleservice Accident Assistance functions.

Options include adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and stop-and-go capability, an active blind spot monitoring system, an active lane departure and lane keeping assist system, and cross-traffic alert that works at the front and back of the vehicle. Evasion Aid is also available, a system designed to help drivers to take sudden evasive action in a safe and secure manner.

Technology

The standard iDrive infotainment system employs a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with a tiled menu design. Users can swipe and tap on the screen, use the iDrive control knob and buttons on the center console, or issue voice commands to control the system. Navigation is included, along with real-time traffic and street parking information.

Upgrades include gesture control, a Wi-Fi internet hotspot, and Apple CarPlay. Note that CarPlay is free only for the first year; after that, you need to pay for it. BMW Connected services is also available, and includes a smartphone app and is compatible with Apple Watch, Google Assistant, and Amazon Echo technologies.

BMW X4 buyers can also specify a new color heads-up display that is much larger than before, and which shows more data. Dynamic Digital instrumentation is also an option, along with a 360-degree surround view camera system.